Sporting Shoots; where- and how was it? (2018)

[Will Hewland]

I totally agree with the colour issue.  I did say a while ago I would only go there when I needed to use it as a second shoot because the colours were just becoming a real issue for me.

I’m overusing the word “fiddly” with Horne, but it just is. The traps are often close to the shooter, so even a straight forward target is presented right off the arm, first seen at high speed, usually with not much spring, so it rapidly slows just as you attack it. Edgey coloured clays against various crops and trees add to it. Stand 12 yesterday was a slow floppy quartering away, but through trees against bright background. Eye strain city. But as Sian says, it does train you to shoot a certain type of target that you do see at other places, just not so often. It is definitely trickier than it was a few years ago in terms of scores.

 

[Bebo]

I’m overusing the word “fiddly” with Horne, but it just is. The traps are often close to the shooter, so even a straight forward target is presented right off the arm, first seen at high speed, usually with not much spring, so it rapidly slows just as you attack it. Edgey coloured clays against various crops and trees add to it. Stand 12 yesterday was a slow floppy quartering away, but through trees against bright background. Eye strain city. But as Sian says, it does train you to shoot a certain type of target that you do see at other places, just not so often. It is definitely trickier than it was a few years ago in terms of scores.

Didn't have a problem seeing the target on Stand 12, but it didn't get past the group of three trees before I shot it.  I could see it being more of an issue if you took it after it peaked.  Saw someone trying to take it later and they ended up blanking the stand. 

The orange crosser on Stand 5 I did struggle to see and as a result had to take later than I would have liked, missing two, at least one over the top.  The quartering away orange on Stand 4 (the platform) also wasn't easy to see sharply until it was well out in front, so again I ended up with my hold further out that I would have done if I could have brought it into focus sooner.

 

[Richard59]

Off this week so popped up to Oxfordshire, one shooting was so poor, dreadfully so, one thought twice about driving home, 

Thursday brings BO, perversely looking forward to it now as one has been in such a rut only way is indeed up 

 

[Richard59]

Still off so AGL with Stew Keen, shot well 1/3rd avge 1/3 & shockingly 1/3, on what I thought was a reasonable course. If and its a big if Ican cure myself of both the inability to pull trigger at appropriate time and the near fear of anything from l-r Id be rather than with myself.

Sunday Barbury Sportrap, weds ESP Coleys then  an extended break for 

 

[Doug Pinnegar]

British Open Saturday

County Sportrap at Barbury on Sunday. 

Maybe a return visit for the final at Oakedge on the Sunday PM? 

 

[Bebo]

Just home from AGL.  Overall I'd say the course was a bit stiffer than usual, with three stands that I found particularly troublesome:

Stand 3 - sim pair of left to right quartering crossers, one higher and faster than the other.  I hit every one of the higher, faster crossers, but couldn't get on the second bird.  It had straigthened up by the time I was on it and I think I had my gun in the right location laterally, but that I was probably over the top of them. 5 away on that stand.

Stand 4 - report pair of battue, l-r then r-l.  Both at distance, first full face, second edgy and never opening out fully.  I was dismal, hit one of the r-l birds.  7 away on that stand.

Stand 8 - sim pair of r-l quartering crossing things off the tower.  Hit one on the first pair, missed following two pairs, moved across to the right hand side of the cage and hit the last pair.  5 away on that stand.

Shot most of the rest of it fairly well to finish on a 70, 3 away from my average.  Mildly annoyed to have managed to drop a single clay on each of 5 stands.

 

[Sian]

Just home from AGL.  Overall I'd say the course was a bit stiffer than usual, with three stands that I found particularly troublesome:

Stand 3 - sim pair of left to right quartering crossers, one higher and faster than the other.  I hit every one of the higher, faster crossers, but couldn't get on the second bird.  It had straigthened up by the time I was on it and I think I had my gun in the right location laterally, but that I was probably over the top of them. 5 away on that stand.

Stand 4 - report pair of battue, l-r then r-l.  Both at distance, first full face, second edgy and never opening out fully.  I was dismal, hit one of the r-l birds.  7 away on that stand.

Stand 8 - sim pair of r-l quartering crossing things off the tower.  Hit one on the first pair, missed following two pairs, moved across to the right hand side of the cage and hit the last pair.  5 away on that stand.

Shot most of the rest of it fairly well to finish on a 70, 3 away from my average.  Mildly annoyed to have managed to drop a single clay on each of 5 stands.

I enjoyed the course but have to say stand 4 first bird I didn’t find fair enough but the second bird was so low that two of mine were not visible until they came out at the end of the bank.  Truly frustrating.  Stand 8 again I just felt my barrels were too close to the bar.   Taller you could get over it but both Jane and I found that frustrating.

 

[Bebo]

I enjoyed the course but have to say stand 4 first bird I didn’t find fair enough but the second bird was so low that two of mine were not visible until they came out at the end of the bank.  Truly frustrating.  Stand 8 again I just felt my barrels were too close to the bar.   Taller you could get over it but both Jane and I found that frustrating.

Yes, I came pretty close to hitting my barrel on the top of the stand on 8.  Moving across as far right as I could get in the cage helped with that a bit, but it still wasn't great.  

 

[Richard59]

I enjoyed the course but have to say stand 4 first bird I didn’t find fair enough but the second bird was so low that two of mine were not visible until they came out at the end of the bank.  Truly frustrating.  Stand 8 again I just felt my barrels were too close to the bar.   Taller you could get over it but both Jane and I found that frustrating.

Im 6ft & that st4 report target wasnt that much easier, st8 the cage was I thought a very poorly positioned, more an obstruction, one wanted to treat the pair as crossers but I couldnt as my barrells would I feared have rattled cage, 

 

[Sian]

Im 6ft & that st4 report target wasnt that much easier, st8 the cage was I thought a very poorly positioned, more an obstruction, one wanted to treat the pair as crossers but I couldnt as my barrells would I feared have rattled cage, 

They were I think described as crossers on Stand 8 .   

 

[Richard59]

They were I think described as crossers on Stand 8 .   

Well this chap had a very short window due to said cage which was set that the lhand side was  obstructing that description, rusty cage vs barrells cage wins by refusal so to speak. 

St12 did me, got so worked up for the edge on incoming droppy thing I flashed past most of the slow rabbits, oh well. Nearly swore, nearly

 

[P1Fanatic]

I last shot a month ago so was glad to get out today and what a lovely day with sunshine and a nice breeze. Went to Court Farm and felt a little rusty stepping up to the first stand and dropped two simple birds. Found some form and finished on 86 which I was more than happy with. Especially happy with 6/8 on stand 8 (I think) in the corner with two l-r edgy blaze targets. A lot of people before me were struggling.

 

[Bebo]

I last shot a month ago so was glad to get out today and what a lovely day with sunshine and a nice breeze. Went to Court Farm and felt a little rusty stepping up to the first stand and dropped two simple birds. Found some form and finished on 86 which I was more than happy with. Especially happy with 6/8 on stand 8 (I think) in the corner with two l-r edgy blaze targets. A lot of people before me were struggling.

A lot of people after you struggled as well, including me.  I shot poorly, screwing up a simple sim pair.  9 below average going into the last two stands, decided to have a practice taking a following pair teal target on the drop and let the score drop off the bottom of my averages.  Only went and bloody hit them.  Thought I'd change to practising taking them early on the way up and hit them as well.  When I try to hit clays I can't, stop trying and I hit them! Finished on a lack lustre 68, which won't fall away.

Oh, and I got the right hump on Stand 9. Why do people insist on standing a foot behind you and then shouting to their mates about how you are shooting a target.  A few people seemed to have trouble seeing the r-l mini and were taking it late as it was going away.  I was taking it right in front of me where I could see it and the bloke behind seemed to find it necessary to point that out to all and sundry in a very loud voice.

 

[Sian]

A lot of people after you struggled as well, including me.  I shot poorly, screwing up a simple sim pair.  9 below average going into the last two stands, decided to have a practice taking a following pair teal target on the drop and let the score drop off the bottom of my averages.  Only went and bloody hit them.  Thought I'd change to practising taking them early on the way up and hit them as well.  When I try to hit clays I can't, stop trying and I hit them! Finished on a lack lustre 68, which won't fall away.

Oh, and I got the right hump on Stand 9. Why do people insist on standing a foot behind you and then shouting to their mates about how you are shooting a target.  A few people seemed to have trouble seeing the r-l mini and were taking it late as it was going away.  I was taking it right in front of me where I could see it and the bloke behind seemed to find it necessary to point that out to all and sundry in a very loud voice.

Good to see you today.

 

[Bebo]

Good to see you today.

You too. Hope you got on better than I did!

 

[Sian]

You too. Hope you got on better than I did!

I did    Really just stand 8 that I didn’t read well enough and sloppy elsewhere finished on an 83.

 

[Bebo]

I did    Really just stand 8 that I didn’t read well enough and sloppy elsewhere finished on an 83.

Well shot, you won ladies..

 

[Bebo]

And well shot Simon, for a win in A class.

 

[P1Fanatic]

And well shot Simon, for a win in A class.

Thanks. Only just saw that. Didn't think I had a chance with that score so a nice surprise!

 

[Richard59]

Not a cloud in sky and despite shooting all of last week rather, even by my standards “poorly” Im rather looking forward to Coleys this pm. Prob see a few of you there?